Grader



Jan. 16, 1940. N. H. SCHNEIDER GRADER Filed NOV. 22, 1937 Patented Jan. 16, y1940 nUHT 'GRAnEn Newton H.

schneider, saunaapalif.

Application November 22, 1937,v Serial No. 175,814: r4 claims* (c1. 20o- 1112 .The presentr invention relates lparticularly'to a -machine for grading items such as lettuce, to-` matoes, and all items susceptible to bruising, according tosize without injury thereto, .and with desired speed.

lIt is also an object of the'invention to provide a machine of the characterindicated that will be economical to manufacture, simple in form and .construction, positive in operation, and highly emcient in its practical application.

This lapplication is.a continuation-impart of my application bearing Serial No.A 65,801', iiled yFebruary 26, 1936. I

In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a plan view of aV structure embodying my invention, partly broken away.

Figure Zisaside Aelevation of the structure shown in Figure 1.

In the device as herein illustrated I show at I a frame in which is journaled as at 2 a roller 3 vcarrying a belt 4. In the present instance the belt 4 is an endless belt provided with spaced pockets as 5 disposed along its median line as shown, the items to be graded, such as heads of lettuce, being arranged in these pockets and carried in the direction indicated by arrow I5 in denite spaced relationship to each other.

The roller 3 is driven by a belt connection 'I to a drive shaft 8 journaled in frame I as at 9 and vertically disposed relative Ato the plane of the belt, a portion only of the shaft drive being indicated at I0. l

The belt or conveyor 4 with its cooperating parts as described comprises the feeding means to the grader belts II and I2.

The grader belt II is mounted on pulleys as I2 and I3 on vertical shafts I4 and I5 on frame I, consequently the plane of the belt is at right angles to that of belt 4, but it travels in the same direction as belt 4 as indicated by arrow I6, and in substantially parallel relation thereto. This movement'of the belt is effected by means of a crossed belt connection I1 from the drive shaft 8 to shaft I4.

The pulley I3 is disposed some distance beyond the discharge end of belt 4 and is offset laterally with respect to said belt, and the pulley I2 is disposed at the side-of the belt and is spaced back a distance from its discharge end.

At I8 is shown a roller adjustably mounted as at I9 on frame IA and bearing against the inner side of belt II at a point adjacent the discharge end of belt 4, and is operative to support belt II at this point in spaced relation to the vertical median plane of belt 4.

The arrangement .of'belt II as `described is such that a short portion 20 is provided that is forwardly and inwardly inclined toward the center line.- ofbelt 4, and a longer portionZI is' inclined forwardlyV and outwardly las. shown.

The grader belt 22 is mounted on pulleys y23,

24, 25 on verticalshafts on frame I, the inner portion. of the belt, 26, extending in astraight line from the pulley 23 to the pulley 24 and disposed in opposed/relation to the portions 2t and-Ly `ZI'of belt II. .l l

lThe pulleys 23 and 24are so positionedthat the belt portion25 vo'verliesbelt 4in opposedrelation to b'elt portion .25, approaches closestto the belt-11 at 21 opposite mueres, and then formsA agradually widening passage v:28 withthe belt portion 2 I The belt 22 is driven in the direction indicated byarrow 29 by means of a beltconnection on pulley 23 on shaft 8, the two belts II and 22 being driven atvthe same rate of speed in the same direction.

At 30 is shown a roller adjustably mounted on a bracket 3l on frame I immediately back of the portion 26 of belt 22 at a point some distance-forward of the discharge end of belt-4.

When the grader is in operation it may be assumed that an item, indicated by the dotted circle at 32, is moved forwardly in a straight line by the belt 4 until is contacts the opposing portions ofthe belts II and 22. Since these belts converge to the point 21 they pick the item up and cooperate in carrying it past the discharge yend of belt 4.

ried on without friction to some such position as 35 where the passage 28 is suficiently wide to permit it to drop down.

It is clear that with the belt portion free to give Way throughout its entire length, a second itemvof large size cannot be introduced to the passage 21 because it will spread the opposing belt portions apart and cause the item to drop before it reaches the position 35. Consequently the spacing of the items'on belt 4 would have to be equal to, or greater, than the distance between the positions 34 and 35.

In order to permit the closer spacing of the items on belt 4, and consequently to move a larger number of items through the grader in a given time, the roller 30 may be moved upto contact the belt portion 20. Since the belt portion 2| is unsupported opposite the roller 30 it follows that it will be depressed by the passing item as at 36, but will immediately assume its original position when the item has passed the roller 30. In the meantime another item may enter the diverging passage 28 through 21. Of course, a roller as 30 may not be used, or one may be used, or any desired number may be disposed in staggered relation down long belts and the items transported and dropped where desired.

It is to be understood, of course, that while I have herein shown and described but one specific example of the invention, changes in form, construction, and method of assembly and operation, may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A grader comprising, a conveyor having a discharge end, opposed belts mounted to travel about vertical axes and overlying the conveyor in part and extending beyond the same and movable in the same direction, said opposed belts converging over the conveyor to a point adjacent the discharge end thereof and then diverging therefrom, and instrumentalities resiliently supporting the extreme convergent portions of the belts in separable relation to each other to permit passage of items of varying size therebetween.

2. A grader comprising, an item conveyor, and a pair of opposed belts mounted thereover to travel about vertical axes and in the same direction and extending beyond the discharge end thereof and adjacent thereto, one of said belts being straight and yieldable, and the opposing portion of the other belt having an unyielding portion adjacent thereto at a point adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and diverging in both directions therefrom.

3. A grader comprising, an item conveyor, a straight belt mounted to travel in a vertical plane and in part overlying the conveyor and extending beyond the discharge end thereof and angularly disposed relative to the median line of the conveyor to intersect an extension of said median line beyond the discharge end of the conveyor, and a second belt disposed in opposed relation to the first belt and having a portion thereof unyieldingly supported in spaced relation to the rst belt at a point adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and diverging in both directions therefrom, and instrumentalities for actuating the two belts in the same direction at uniform speeds.

4. A grader comprising, a conveyor belt provided with spaced item supporting means disposed along its median line, and a pair of opposed belts mounted immediately over the conveyor to travel about vertical axes in the same direction and extending beyond the discharge end thereof, one of said belts being straight and yieldable, and the opposing portion of the other belt having an unyielding portion adjacent thereto at a point adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and diverging both rearwardly and forwardly therefrom, the forwardly diverging portions of said belts having staggered supported and unsupported portions to form grading passages of substantially the same length as the spaces between the item supporting means.

NEWTON H. SCHNEIDER. 

